5 Questions with - The Habitat Collective

This week I am so excited to share insights from The Habitat Collective. Aside from being amazing designers Sara and Laura are two of the nicest people you will meet! Below they share their experience with starting their own design company as well as some amazing shots from their recent work. Thank you for sharing ladies!

When did you make the big decision to start your own business? What inspired you? What scared you?

Starting our own design business is something that both of us, individually, had aspired to for years; for one reason or another, it just hadn't happened until we met each other. A couple years ago, we started working as designers for IKEA, on the same day, and within a matter of months we were discussing the idea of setting up our own business together. Last November, we finally registered The Habitat Collective as a business in the state of Florida. Being our own bosses, having more creative freedom with projects, and working closely with lovely clients was motivation for us! It was never a scary prospect; however, it continues to be a challenge and huge learning experience while managing everything first hand.

What has surprised you most about this process?The power of social media: Instagram, in particular, has been a huge platform for us and has generated nearly all of our business and collaboration work. Through social media, we've felt so welcomed and have received so much encouragement, which we are so grateful for. We love our Instagram family!

What do you wish you’d known before starting your business? Any advice for future small business entrepreneurs?

We're constantly making mistakes and learning from them! If you're truly passionate about what you do, people tend to gravitate towards that. If you believe in it, other people will too! It’s also really important to do research on taxes, certification, accounts and licenses—keep organized files for everything!

Where do you go in Miami when you’re looking for inspiration?

When we need a break and some inspiration, we head towards the water: either to the beach or out on our paddle boards. There's something calming about the water and how the expanse of the ocean can make some of your problems seem insignificant, which is refreshing if you're having an inspiration block! Although we have our own ways of decompressing, we find that getting out of the office helps to clear our heads.You might find Sara taking in the scenery on a run and Laura wandering around Wynwood or the Art Deco district taking photos. We also love visiting the DCOTA (Design Centre of the Americas) whenever we need inspiration! When we REALLY want to treat ourselves, we head for a cocktail at one of our favorite water side hotels: the 1 Hotel or The Standard—we can't get enough of the interiors!

What modern local group or business do you look up to?

We have a lot of respect for Monica Auslander of Essence Nutrition. She's a fellow girl boss with a lot of talent and passion for what she does. She started her business from scratch and is already taking the world by storm!We wholly recommend following along on her social media for a daily dose of no-nonsense nutrition advice!

You can find more about about The Habitat Collective by clicking here and follow their InstaGram for endless interior inspiration!